Dna probes for identification of leptospires and disease diagnosis.

A newly identified 1 kb DNA fragment amplified by PCR using (AG)8T inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primer and a 631 bp segment of 16S rRNA ribosomal gene amplified by PCR using reported primers were labeled with a alpha32P dCTP for use as DNA probes. These probes were hybridized with DNA extracted from 19 standard pathogenic serovars, 3 standard saprophytic serovars, 33 pathogenic isolates (12 from patients, 1 from a tapwater source, and 20 from rodents), and 22 saprophytic isolates from environmental sources. The pathogen-specific 16S rRNA DNA probe specifically hybridized all 33 standard pathogenic serovars, to 13 pathogenic isolates. Similarly, the saprophyte specific 1 kb ISSR DNA probe specifically hybridized the 3 standard saprophytic serovars and the 22 saprophytic Leptospira isolates. The sensitivity of the 1 kb labeled saprophytic Leptospira specific DNA probe was 1.95 ng, and for the 16S rRNA pathogen specific probe 3.90 ng. The 16S rRNA gene segment DNA probe could also identify the leptospiremic stage in mice or guinea pigs infected experimentally with the pathogenic serovars australis, autumnalis or icterohaemorrhagiae. DNA probes therefore, owing to their high specificity and sensitivity, appear useful for easy, rapid, and reliable differentiation of pathogenic Leptospira strains and also hold promise for direct identification of organisms in blood samples to diagnose leptopsirosis.